Vestments for Cathedral Wardens

Is there a correct vestment that a Dean’s Warden and Peoples’ Warden may wear for ceremonial processions in a cathedral church? Should it be a cope-type garment or a garment similar to a verger’s gown to enable the warden’s stave/staff to be easily carried?

R.A.Eriksen

Sacristan

Auckland Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

Aotearoa New Zealand

REPLIES

27/4/11 - Fr David Moore

In England the custom is for churchwardens to wear smart lounge suits or in some places morning dress...certainly not gowns or copes.

Fr.David Moore...G.S.S.Warden.

27/4/11 - Nic R.

Many English Cathedrals do not have a parish and so do not have Wardens as such. The only formal item for any warden is their staff of office - and since the demise of the Vicar's (or Rector's) Warden and People's Warden system - both are now elected at the Annual Vestry Meeting prior to the APCM - the crown and mitre finials would seem to be defunct,

Some cathedrals have robes which their lay canons wear on formal occasions, akin to an academic hood.

Nic R

27/4/11 - Quintin

At St Paul's our vergers wear vergers vestments with heavy red embellishment and tassels on special occasions also for the Dean.

Quintin

29/4/11 - Robert Tucker

Dear Brother Sacristan,
I have never heard or read of robes for Churchwardens. In my own Parish Church they have no distinguishing marks other than the fact that they both wear robes, one is in the choir and the other a server. When functioning as Churchwardens they are in lay dress. At our Cathedral of Saint Michael in Coventry the five Churchwardens have a collaret and badge.
In England the Church is established and Churchwardens are "Officers of the State" and should be seen to be of the laity.
I hope this goes some way to answering your question.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Tucker. (Sacristan S. Mary Magdalen, Chapelfields, Coventry,)

2/5/11

I was under the opinion that it is similar to a vergers gown

7/5/11 - Percy

At our parish church the churchwardens wear what look like red academic gowns (or maybe they are choir robes). I don't know how this came about, but they seem to like it and it helps identify them to visitors.

Percy

13/5/11 - Percy

The wardens at S Magnus Martyr also wear red gowns.

Percy